Weeks or Months?

How do you count? Do you go by the date of their birth or consider four weeks one month?

If someone has the answer, please clue this clueless mama in...

Either way, James and Mattie Rose turned four weeks old yesterday! On one hand it seems as if they have been here forever, and on the other hand it's only been four weeks. All sense of time goes out the window in my opinion.

They are doing great! No problems, praise the Lord! I think we have our days and nights confused, which we have started working on. It's rather difficult to keep two babies awake and playing in between feedings, diaper changes, and everything else. But today we had quite a bit of awake/play time, so fingers crossed that they sleep better tonight! 

It is so neat to see their personalities develop and learn their mannerisms! James is rather laid back, only crying or fussing when he is hungry or needs his diaper changed. Mattie Rose on the other hand is somewhat of a drama queen. I'm not sure where she gets it from :) She will let out yelps and squeaks just to make sure someone is paying attention to her. And when she can sense her brother getting more attention, she will quickly try to steal the show. 

They are both so sweet though and love to cuddle with their mom. Or anyone who is holding them. If I'd let them, they would probably both sleep on my chest all night long without waking up. But instead, we put James in his crib and Mattie Rose is sleeping in her Nap Nanny. She does not like lying flat on her back and spits up quite a bit, so we needed something to prop her up. I thought about elevating one end of her crib, but the Nap Nanny is nice because we can put it in the bed with us, take it in the living room, wherever. 

During their second week, my mom came and stayed with us and my mother-in-law stayed with us last week. My mom is here again helping this week. I don't know what I would have done without the two of them! We let Kyle sleep through the night since he is the one having to get up and go to work. And with two of them, night shift is tricky and rough. Fortunately, MeMe and MommaMc take one for the team and let both of us sleep as much as possible.  They have helped me keep my house in order, our stomachs full, and babies happy!

Below are just a few pictures of the duo...

{snuggle time}

{chilling in the nap nanny before heading out to my doctor appointment}

{babies in nothing but diapers - nothing sweeter}

{one month photo shoot begins - someone was getting hungry}

{sweet baby james on the left and miss priss mattie rose on the right}

{he's still having some trouble sitting up :)}

{daydreaming}

{"mom, really...."}

{sweet sister}

{holding on tight to her brother - hope that never changes}

{having a little brother/sister conversation}

{they were over it by this point}

So who do you think each one looks like? It's interesting to hear what everyone's opinions are. I have mine, but I'll keep them to myself :) 

I  have done a terrible job of taking pictures, mainly because we stay too busy to remember to grab the camera. I plan on doing a better job with this. I know I will regret it if I don't! 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week. You're almost to the end! Finish strong!

All our love!

A Special Delivery

Almost three weeks ago, on May 30, 2012, our precious miracles took their first breaths! What a day it was! 

Because of the preeclampsia issues the doctor admitted me to the hospital the night before the scheduled c-section to monitor me and the babies. They were doing great so things stayed on schedule for the following day. We were scheduled to begin at noon, however we had to wait a little while longer. Not good for a woman who hadn't eaten since 5:00 the night before. At 2:43 our daughter, Mattie Rose, was born, and one minute later at 2:44, our son, James was born. There are no words to describe the feeling of lying there, not seeing what is happening behind the curtain, and then all of a sudden hearing to crying babies. Thankfulness, gratitude, joy... These words just don't cut it. 

Here a just a few pictures from the Mattie Rose's and James' birthday!!!

{trying to calm my nerves before surgery}

{my bff alicia - i was in the delivery room when she had declan last year. we don't miss these things}

{talking things over with dr. kennedy before we got started - love this man. incredible doctor.}

{anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist - this is when i started to get nervous. they use needles}

{after  hearing them cry - kyle did an awesome job taking pictures and videotaping - even though he wasn't supposed to}

{mattie rose on the left and james on the right}

{my sweet family of four}

{loving on mattie rose}

{james had to stay in a little isolette for 12 hours of monitoring because he was so little}

{while dad fed james....

mattie rose got her first bath}

{first family photo once james was able to come out of the isolette}

{momma and her babies}

{matching jams}

{getting ready to leave the hospital}

{introducing the babies to our pup, jake}

{home sweet home}

{family}

{after first bath at home}

{in jams and ready for bed}

Since being home, it has been a whirlwind. Sleep has been non-existent (until last night, but more on that later), showers were rare, and we were taking bites of food quickly throughout the day. 

Because the babies lost a little too much weight in the hospital and were just a little jaundice, we initially had to supplement with formula. After a week, I decided to stop the supplement and try to nurse. To make sure they were getting enough from me, we were counting diapers and all seemed well. At their two week check-up at the pediatrician, Mattie Rose was one ounce shy of her birth weight of 5 pounds and 12 ounces and James had surpassed his birth weight of 5 pounds and 4 ounces. With Mattie Rose weighing 5 pounds 11 ounces and James weighing 5 pounds 10.5 ounces, he is catching up with her! 

In the beginning, I was so determined to only breastfeed the babies, however after almost three weeks of no sleep and constant tears from exhaustion, I came up with a new game plan yesterday. After some encouraging words from a friend of mine, I had to tell myself I have to take care of myself in order to take care of anyone else. So now we (I) have decided to give them formula at night and then breast milk during the day. And after several straight hours of sleep last night, I am now totally at peace with this decision. I am happier, they seem happier, and I have a feeling in no time my husband will be happier :)

I am quickly learning that it's nice to try and make plans for the way you intend to raise and take care of your children, but that flexibility and bending to what each one needs is required. 

God has been faithful thus far in giving me and those helping us the ability to persevere, and I have no doubt that his grace and empowerment will continue. This is has been the hardest, yet most rewarding, thing I have done so far in my life. 

I am sure this blog will take a turn towards the babies, but I will do my best to post about other things as well. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we adjust to the newness of having two little ones around. 

Love to all!

On the floor...

That's where we are.



Hard to tell because it's so dark. But that's where we lie. On the floor. In the nursery. Two babies on one mommy's chest. Call me a terrible mother, but when this is the only thing to keep two babies asleep in the middle of the night, I don't care.

Wouldn't trade this spot for my comfy king size bed any day. Well, at least today...

Sweet dreams! :)

Love,

Mom, James, and Mattie Rose

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